wrath of the Sea Queen (190 page)

"
That's what I
thought
, too.  I
asked Salma if the
machine was broken.  Look closer, C
a
eli.
"

C
a
eli studied the photo
with renewed interest
, but could not
discern
what Vin wanted her to notice.  In fact,
forcing herself to focus w
as beginning
to give her a headache
.

"
Please, w
hat am I supposed to see, Vin?
"

"
Twins
!
  Honey, you were
carrying
twins,
"
Vin's smile grew as he revealed the
good
news
.

C
a
eli looked a
t the photo a
third time.  It still took several minutes, but she finally saw them. 
At first, she thought it was cruel to tell her such a thing after she miscarried.  Why compound her sorrow?  But Vin would never do that to her.  C
a
eli looked at Vin's smile and the sparkle in his eyes.  She
noticed
his hand resting lightly on her belly, and
then
s
he understood. 
There was a
valid
reason
for the
lingering traces
of
life
she felt
inside of her.  Miraculously, she
had
not
miscarr
ied
both
babies
.  One child remained.

Salma would have told Vin that the remaining child w
as
high risk, and that
she
would be at risk, too.  That's why Salma g
ave
the strict order for bed rest.  That's why Vin was
enforcing
it. 
It
also
explained
why
, aside from his concern for her,
he was
being
so pushy about getting her to eat
and regain her strength
.
 
Vin
did
n
o
t want her weakness to
adversely
affect the baby and
his
second chance
to become a father
.  Ther
e was still a possibility that
he might have a son
, and Vin was determined to protect this child
. 
This time,
C
a
eli
would try
to be strong enough.  She would try not to fail Vin again.

She looked over at Vin and
genuinely
smil
ed at the good news, and saw her
happiness reflected on his face.
  C
a
eli didn'
t need to say anything else. 
K
nowing
was enough
for both of them
. 
She promised Vin she would eat something more when she woke. 
C
a
eli
fell asleep,
afraid
for he
r
baby and in pain from her injuries, but
with a
glimmer
of
h
ope
shining
through the shadows fill
ing
her mind
.  Vin
sat in a chair
beside
the bed
and
sampled
a few bites of Ben's chicken
soup
, wondering if C
a
eli
was
just
being polite
about the flavor
.

"
Guard her well, Brother.
"

"Raph?  It's good to hear your voice.  Have you come to help C
a
eli?  She could sure use the benefit of your touch right now," Vin hoped their luck was finally turning around.
 

"
Yes, but not like that.  I cannot do that for her until she decides.
"

"Decides what?  Just ask
.  Whatever it is
, I
a
m sure she
wi
ll give you an answer.  Then you can heal her.  Let me wake her."

"
No,
i
t
i
s not that simple. 
All is not as it seems
, Brother
.
C
a
eli's
gift has been with her since she was a
young
child, only
she
has
not
been aware of it
until recently. 
It
s
develop
ment
in this
manner is unexpected
.
Unfortunately, her gift
has been
abruptly
forced
on
her by one who
is lost and
would abuse such power. 
Until C
a
eli resolves th
e
conflict
within
, I cannot interfere.
"

"
You mean Rika, don't you? 
No need to s
pell
that one
out. 
I know there is something hostile between
the two of
them. 
I
f you can't heal
C
a
eli
, then why are you here?"  Vin's disappointment was evident.

"
Much
has
change
d
for her
, but
C
a
eli's
most difficult challenge
s
lie ahead
. 
If
certain events
happen
, she will
view
them
through blind eyes
and
may not
be able to
see
the good
at work.  She
may
be
confused
.
"

Vin felt a reassuring hand on his shoulder
, sending a
steady
flow of energy into him.  It was
a comfort Vin
appreciated, but wished that
C
a
eli could receive
as well
.

"Confused?  Saying C
a
eli is confused
right now
is
equivalent to
saying a hurricane is
only
a bit of wind and rain.  She is
already
well beyond confused.  She
i
s overwhelmed. 
C
a
eli
deserves
so much
better than this. 
Now you are saying the
worst is yet
to come.
  Is there nothing you can do
to help
her?
"

"
I
am doing it
right now
.  I
wish
this
was not necessary, Eyvindr.  I
did not want
the two of you
to be
involved
with this
.  I wish you the peac
e and happiness you s
ought
; b
ut
, neither my
wishes
nor yours
will
change what must be faced
.
"